1

all i have to say is "WOW they really must be running out of movie ideas in Hollywood"
I guess good original ideas are a thing of the past.

Cyrus The Virus on Sep 15, 2008

2

^That's been the general consensus for Hollywood for YEARS. I actually enjoyed the first xXx, though. It's a shallow, guilty pleasure picture but is nonetheless entertaining. The second one was pretty terrible. All I have to say about this is Xander Cage is supposed to be dead as mentioned in the sequel. So I'm thinking…. SIX MILLION DOLLAR MAN, anyone? Of course, I know nothing of this sequel, but if the predictability of the business is any indication then I'm right on the money.

Frame on Sep 15, 2008

3

Vin Diesel hasn't been involved with a good movie since "The Iron Giant"

nuts to him

Voice Of Reason on Sep 15, 2008

4

Wow another xXx movie….Whoop-de-do *does the finger twirling in the air gesture*

God, will Vin Diesel's career ever recover?

Rob on Sep 15, 2008

5

They're actually making or marketing I should say for a third xXx movie? Has movie going audiences really become that stupid and cheap to actually want to see garbage like this get continued?

I'm on with you Alex, since Diesel has abandoned two movie franchises, these production companies still find it needlessly engaging to make some more garbage.

I just don't understand why! Diesel is not a good actor and may I remind that NO ONE CARED about "Babylon A.D."!

Conrad on Sep 15, 2008

6

Poster #3 - solid gold genius!
I'm with #2 - Zander dies in the bridging scene between 1 and 2 … geez, did I just admit knowing that??? You actually see the fleshy part of the back of his head, complete with tattoo, land on the tarmac. Nice.
I love the Vin, but his agent should be shot on site.
Just more Riddick please.

mrbobbyboy on Sep 15, 2008

7

Alex, YOu are killing me… with all the random films that you enjoy and you never even gave the first XXX a chance… comeon, give it a try… It is definently not movie making genious, but was fun and enjoy it when it pops up on the TV from time to time.. haha

but yes.. 3rd is a bad idea, but you gotta give it a try.. comeon, you love Fast and Furious series.. and that series is nothing but eye-candy also.

Talk to you soon

Dusty on Sep 15, 2008

8

Between his return to The Fast and The Furious and xXx… Diesel must have some pretty hefty bills that need to be paid.

Tom Brazelton on Sep 15, 2008

9

As I said way back when the original Babylon AD trailer was released, Vin Diesel is one more shite film away from a straight-to-DVD career. Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you xXx3. If Diesel's next film after this isn't premiered on a plastic disc, I'll eat my hat.

Squiggly_P on Sep 15, 2008

10

I dont think Diesel is necessarily a bad actor. Hes pretty accomplished considering how he started out. I think the blame should put on hollywood. First, its usually MORE profitable to make a BAD movie, there are less expenses involved all around and if they put at least one star's name on it, it sells. Its way easier to take that low risk and make money back if you put little into it. Cheap CGI has furthered that cause.

People fail to look at actors as workers and studios as companies. At the end of the day the actors need work in order to make a living and they can only choose from parts available. They can't will a good movie into existence or ensure they will get that part. Long gone are the stars that hold out years to make only great movies. If you do that today, either you are lucky and hot enough at the moment to keep it going or you fade away and are forgotten. Why would you not take the easy money as an actor? Why should they have loyalty to fans that borders on making them feel like its a public duty? There is no money in it. And people are fickle.

Studios market stars and franchises like a product brand name. If its recognizable it will sell no matter what. Maybe it wont be a blockbuster, but they make a return on investment and at the end of the day, that is what keeps the industry going. So who is really at fault? Sure the studios for putting out garbage on a steady basis, but WE are the ones ultimately funding this and encouraging it. Not many have enough resolve to stop watching the same movies they slam and call terrible.

If you look at it that way, Diesel isnt really trying to recover, as he puts out an average of 2 films a year, which is what any actor wants. Look at Samuel L Jackson. He has been in over 100 films and I bet that hardly anyone can name half of them. He has some of the biggest lifetimes earnings of any actor. No one bitches about him because he makes movies consistently. Hes come to the point that he is immortalized as a star because of a handful of notable roles and a ton of forgettable ones. Its like dollar cost averaging. If he makes films, regardless of outcome, the great ones average out the bad. And he has been in some shitty films to be sure.

Its all about perception… and yes, the audiences are really that stupid. That is how marketing works at all. The majority (about 80% +/-) of people obey the TV and live their lives accordingly. That is the first lesson in a college marketing 101 class.

Insomniac on Sep 15, 2008

11

i enjoyed both xXx and the Fast and the Furious, so yea!!! come on, every loves a dumb action movie sometimes.

p0pe on Sep 15, 2008

12

Funny, cuz Indie movies seem to be able to crank out new and unused ideas…

Ian MacLatchie on Sep 15, 2008

13

@ 10…

I enjoyed your incites and you really helped put it in perspective. We really shouldn't judge actors on their roles because I wouldn't want someone to judge me for working at an insurance company…everyone's gotta pay the bills.


XXX3 is a bad idea though, I want more "Find me Guilty" and "Pitch Black" performances from Diesel.

Peloquin on Sep 15, 2008

14

Alex, how can you "hate" a franchise when you've never seen any of the movies in the series? That's like saying "I love the Godfather movies, but I've never actually seen any of them". I'm assuming you're basing your opinion on reputation rather than actual experience - not a very professional way to report movie news (since some people that read this site may actually trust your opinion).

You may think it's a bad idea to make another one (as do I), but to "hate" the franchise and to say the next movie will be "a failure" and "absolutely terrible" without having seen the previous ones makes your opinion pretty weak.

Tim on Sep 15, 2008

15

Alex, you know I back you up a lot, but I gotta agree with 14 on this one. I was forced to go see Beauty Shop back in the day and write a paper on it for film school. So if you're getting paid to be a film critic you should definitely see the movie before posting your opinions about it. I'm a RT.com snob myself in which I usually don't see anything under a 20%, but since you're in the biz you should really watch all the crap so I can use your opinions to help me avoid the crap. I really enjoy your reviews so I hope they're not based on Hollywood hype, but instead the feeling you actually got while viewing the film.

I even watched Tokyo Drift last night due to a few comments in the last Fast and Furious post and even though I wanted to gouge my eyes out with a fork throughout the whole film I at least can contrast that piece of crap with solid film making which helps to refine my film palette even more.

So go watch XxX and then post here about how terrible it was to satisfy all your avid fans ;o)

Peloquin on Sep 15, 2008

16

I have to side with #14 on this one. I though the first one was pretty cool and plus samule L. jackson is in it! he already makes it badass haha and as for the second one the thing that made it bad was that ice tray oh i mean ice cube was in it and he just didnt fit the part.

ha1rball on Sep 15, 2008

17

I have to agree with #14 and #15 here, Alex. You could have posted this or any similar article without including your personal opinions directly in the article. You can save that kind of stuff for the message board as an afterthought. To criticize a movie or series of movies without having seen it/them is a very unprofessional move.
Now, that being said, xXx was only a decent action movie, and xXx State of the Union was terrible. I have to give credit to Vin Diesel, though for involving himself in a lot of different types of projects. He's not only a decent actor, but he writes and directs as well.
And in response to #10 Insomniac,
Well said, man. Though I have to disagree on one point.Your statement that, "Long gone are the stars that hold out years to make only great movies," is untrue. In my opinion, Daniel Day Lewis is the finest actor this business has ever seen, and only recurs every few years in a truly spectacular film. He has delivered oscar-worthy performances many times and won four Best Actor awards at the Oscars.
xXx3 is gonna bomb, though.

JL on Sep 15, 2008

18

I agree with #14. That's almost as bad as the people who think all black-and-white movies suck even though they've never given them a chance.

Drew on Sep 15, 2008

19

Didn't they kill Xander in #2?

Hates XXX on Sep 15, 2008

20

I rather watch a third xXx with Vin than the Transporter 3…

rodpop on Sep 15, 2008

21

Another one who agrees with #14. The sense of loathing coming from your article, when you haven't seen the films in question, can only diminish the worth of your opinion, really.

Chris on Sep 15, 2008

22

DO IT! the big mistake was 'State of Union.' Let's get the hood to help out lol. what was that about????

My memory is slipping in my old age, but didnt they explain that Xander died? maybe…maybe not. dont remember, and i will never waste another minute on 'state of Union.' it will just be a mystery to me unless osmeone answers here. I am now dumber having seen state of union hahahah

michael on Sep 15, 2008

23

I think the only movie I am looking forward to him in is Fast and the Furious but thats just gonna be bonified badass XXX3 BAD, F and F 4 gooood

Cody on Sep 15, 2008

24

Fuck it, I'm gonna see it anyway. And to you Alex, I really don't think you can judge a whole series without seeing a single installment. I will admit I didn't even bother to see #2, but the first one was very entertaining.

Matthew Nevin on Sep 15, 2008

25

The 1st was awesome and made a ton of money. Unfortunately they didn't capitalize on it.

I don't if you can salvage it after the 2nd one. And taking into account that Rob Cohen did an even worse job with the mummy than with stealth, despite having a 150 million dollar budget…well, doesn't sound good.

Darunia on Sep 15, 2008

26

I'll probably watch this film…and not enjoy it. I've watched the first two (State of the Union really did suck), but I'm the kind of person that needs to complete the series (no matter how lame the sequels may seem). And again I have to agree with just about everyone else on here that "you can't knock it till you tried it". Just because you assume you won't enjoy a movie doesn't mean you won't, and it really doesn't seem fair to hate something you've never watched.

I also think that since you haven't watched the second two The Fast and The Furious films you should check them out. I wasn't really a fan of the second film (a hour and a half of "How do you like them apples!?"), but finally my need to watch all of the films in a series paid off when I was pleasantly surprised by Tokyo Drift. Not a "great" movie, but better than the second. I personally would have skipped the second film and made this in its stead (but there's also a reason I don't work in the movie biz so what do I know?). I'd say check all four of these films out and you may be pleasantly surprised.
What do you have to lose but a couple hours of your time (and whose time is really that important anyway?).

ClerksFan on Sep 15, 2008

27

i stopped reading the "pre"view after u said the title sounded like a porno… hahhaaha good shit.

still laughing out loud right now, xander cage.. what a homo

sorr on Sep 15, 2008

28

i liked xXx. it was good. i'm glad they brought back rob cohen , he should stick to his own franchise rather than stephen sommers.

Darrin on Sep 15, 2008

29

New Fast and Furious looks awesome, but this sounds bad.

Joel on Sep 15, 2008

30

Alex,
Watch the retarded movie before you post an opinion on it and most certainly before you indicate that you hate the franchise..It's absolutely annoying and I have lost my trust in your reviews because of this, really.
It's unacceptable that someone that gets paid for their professional opinion to do this kind of crap.

ERivas on Sep 15, 2008

31

BILLINGTON! Have you been waiting since 2002 to make a xXx porno quip?!

DCompose on Sep 15, 2008

32

all i have to say is . . .

"BITCHES. COME!"

i'll probably end up going to see it. although without my gf - she HATES Vin Diesel. she would probably throw her knitting at me from her position on the bed behind me if she knew i was defending him.

more Riddick, for SURE!!! but with better science

black Sunshine on Sep 15, 2008

33

Diesel career can come back if you believe, give him a shot.
Riddick good
Find Me Guilty good
Carpazo Good.
Iron Giant good.
There's a few
oh Boiler Room great…

Xerxex on Sep 15, 2008

34

Diesel was good in Saving Private Ryan as well.
I love action films, and hey are we only to have comic book films from now on? I think a entertaining straight action flick is needed every summer.

Sean Valen on Sep 15, 2008

35

not at all for XXX and fanboyish excited for fast and furious. something about cars and paul walker. the cheesiness factor for all the FAF movies has been high for me.

David Lowe on Sep 15, 2008

36

The guy who post this loved Wall-E, but this week has put down Transprter, XXX, and
Rambo!! What a pussy! I want to slap him right out of his lace panty

Mike Scuillo on Sep 15, 2008

37

The thing that annoys me the most about this forthcoming film is that in the second one (which I sadly saw a couple of times) they make a point of saying in one of the scenes in the background that agents are being killed all over and the latest one is Xander Cage!!! They made a point to say he was dead! I hated xXX and I hated xXx 2 give it a rest!

Kaiser on Sep 16, 2008

38

First film was not that bad. Skipped the second though.

Sean Kelly on Sep 16, 2008

39

I enjoyed the first one…especially the nice ride he coped (and I'm not talking about the Corvette…nah man). But I was not interested in the "ice cube" second version..and I'm a bit skeptical of a third go around. Same reasons as folks mentioned already.

I think they did run out of good stories in Hollywood. Shoot..at least do more books and turn them into good movies (Council of Ten, The Killing Floor / Lee Childs, etc).

Bry from Chi on Sep 16, 2008

40

I think Vin Diesel movies are hit-or-miss. Personally, XxX is his kind of movie. If people are willing to pay to go see it, let em.

Honestly, I liked the first one b/c it was kind of an anti-bond before the whole Bourne identity-type revamp. Hopefully it's not too over the top.

jmoney on Sep 16, 2008

41

Everyone keeps pointing out that they killed Xander Cage in the sequel but fail to realize that this is Hollywood and they never said how he died. Plus in the movie world we're talking about a government agency. Do you think you can really trust a government agency in a movie like this to tell the truth?? I think this will leave the script writers open to write him back into the story how ever they want. Perhapse he was on a secret mission that was on a need-to-know-basis.

I liked most of the first movie, didn't care for the next (didn't even make it all the way through), but will probably see the third at some point.

vanillarick on Sep 16, 2008

42

xxx1=good to me.
xxx2=horrible.

jotace. on Sep 16, 2008

43

Hey Alex, they are coming out with another animated movie called Igor. Maybe thatis more your speed since XXX and Rambo don't do it for you!! By the way, the rest of us men will be watching football on Sunday while you're playing video games and sitting in front of the computer!!

Mike Scuillo on Sep 16, 2008

44

Settle down Mikey, everyone is entitled to their own likes and opinions… we don't cuss you because you like men, so don't do it to others.

Now, I did hear in the 'non-canon' sequel that Xander was killed off, but I don't remember this scene that #6 is talking about. Ice Cube did indeed ruin the franchise but if they CAN reprise Vin's character for another film, I would definitely watch it. I'm certainly willing to get back to the franchises roots and see Vin in action.

Merc on Sep 17, 2008

45

Hey the first xXx was cool. 'Cool' not 'awesome' or 'the sh*t'. and it was more exciting than the 007 movies I've seen.

The sequel to xXx was balls. Balls!!!

zwandaba on Sep 17, 2008

46

WHOA WHOA WHOA

What Studio is doing it? If its Columbia then here is a smart move if you want this to be a success. First, keep Rob Cohen away from the film. He got lucky from The Fast & The Furious but I think it wasn't his directing but his way with characters that worked in that film. His ass needs to stay away from the director's chair. I say get someone like Antoine Fuqua as a director. He has good talent and his films are actually good. The man needs more big studio films under his belt and everyone can agree that Training Day & Shooter were great films.

Now the Ice Cube thing is corny, I liked his character in the last movie but I hated the story plot. Don't put the two together at all. In fact I think they should just explain it that Xander Cage faked his death to stay outta harm's way or he was on a super secret project that needed him to disappear for a while.

Just start fresh with another director and make it R-rated and all these people will actually watch it. Thats my idea….

Any one??????

Joey Crack on Oct 5, 2008

47

It's impossible to take the opinion of the writer of this article seriously when they claim that there is no other franchise they hate more than the xXx franchise and yet also admit to have never seen either of the xXx flicks. Not even the first one. Regardless of what you may think of the xXx movies, you have to admit to make such a claim without having even seen it is pretty ridiculous.

Stephen S. on Oct 24, 2008

48

how the fuck can u put vin Diesel in the 3 xxx film forgive me but he is a pukka actor i loved his films if u remember he died in the second one coz samuel l jackson turns around say xander cage died in wen he was on vacation so how the hell can u bring bk xander cage in the third one its a bit dumb really i liked xxx thought it was brillant but have the directors forgot about the second film where it mentions wot happened to xander hit me bk with replies plz at ryanfletcher_21@hotmail.com

ryan fletcher on Nov 13, 2008